Mike Scharf was sworn in as Amelia’s new mayor in council chambers Jan. 2 due to the surprise resignation of elected mayor Mark Menz.

Menz resigned the Amelia mayoral post on Dec. 31, a full year before his term as mayor was to expire, to become the new village administrator.

“Essentially, this has all come about because council offered me the full-time village administrator position,” said Menz. “I was thinking about resigning my full-time position at Midland anyway, and the timing was perfect – everything just all worked together. I had to resign as mayor to accept the new village administrator position.”

The resignation of Menz was necessary because the Amelia village charter states that one cannot be an elected official and an employee of the village simultaneously.

Mike Scharf is sworn in as Amelia

Menz said that in the past, Amelia's mayor was primarily responsible for the day-to-day operations of the village.

"Things will change only a little," he said. "As village administrator, I will still be doing about 90 percent of what I was doing before as mayor, the difference being that I will not have to preside over the council meetings.

Newly appointed Mayor Mike Scharf, who lives in Amelia with Ginger, his wife of 10 years and four children, will assume the remainder of Menz's elected term and decide in November 2007 if he wants to run for his own elected mayoral term.

Scharf was surrounded by family and friends as he took the mayoral oath of office.

"I am very excited and grateful," Scharf said. "Knowing that I have the opportunity to lead the people of Amelia is a responsibility that I take very seriously."

Councilman Robert Tasch, after being nominated by fellow councilwoman Pamela Troxell and unanimously approved by the remaining members of council, became Amelia's new vice-mayor.

The spot on council left vacant by the appointment of vice-mayor Tasch was immediately filled with the appointment (nominated by councilman Andrew Parker) and swearing in of Amelia resident and new councilman Leroy Ellington.